Hugh Roberts was minister of this parish, this carn was dug open and a stone coffin containing the bones of a tall man was found. Quitting the mountain, and passing a good road for 6 m., reach NEFYN, a small town in the hundred of Dinllaen, containing 1726 inhabitants. Here is a harbour for about fifty vessels of from 40 to 60 tons, employed principally in carrying slates from Caernarvon, &c. to Liverpool and other places. At the distance of 1 m. is Ty-mawr, and adjoining a stone pillar with monastic carving upon it. Two m. above the town is a house called Pistyll, near which are some grand cliffs, upon the sea-side, containing considerable caverns, of a wild and savage appearance. Adjoining the town is Mount-Pleasant, where the inhabitants assemble to view the sea and other objects. This mount is evidently a tumulus. About 14 m. s. from Nefyn, upon the shore, is Porth-Dynllaen, situated near a fine sandy bay, and defended from the strong w. winds by a narrow headland, with its promontory jutting far out to sea. This port is conjectured to have been frequented by the Romans: there are vestiges of strong entrenchments still visible in the vicinity. Some time since a scheme was formed of improving this unfrequented portion of the country, by bringing part of the great road from London to Ireland, through it, by a new line, from Merionethshire across the Traeth mawr, and forming this port the rendezvous for the packet vessels, instead of Holyhead. For this purpose an act was passed in the year 1806, to erect a pier and other necessary works, and incorporating a company for raising money, collecting rates, &c. ; but on a subsequent application to parliament for pecuniary assistance, a denial was given, and the work, in consequence, has not been performed. A proposition has been recently made by the directors of the Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton railway to connect that line with one from Porth Dynllaen through Tremadoc, Barmouth, and Bala. Hence to Barmouth, according to Mr. Vignoles, a distance of 37 m., will require only an ordinary railway operation being for the most part over favourable ground. With the exceptions of a short tunnel and some cutting at Barmouth, and the viaduct near Dolgelly, the railway line runs for nearly 18 m. on the surface of the ground to Bala. From Bala to the vicinity of Llangollen the favourable nature of the line is admitted, even by those most opposed, to be favourable. This brings the railway nearly 80 m. from Porth Dynllaen, of which distance 75 m. presents a very favourable line, and for 70 m. the levels are unobjectionable. To obtain such results, a few great works may be encountered on the other 5 m. of the road. At Llangollen a canal commences which proceeds into the vales of Shropshire, following the course of the streams of the country; therefore no difficulty can arise in projecting a railway through the same district. With respect to the difference of 4 m. which Porth Dynllaen is further from Dublin than Holyhead, Captain Beaufort, R. N. proves that owing to the difference of the courses between the two parts across the channel to Kingstown, the most prevalent wind (s. E.) would be a side wind both ways between Porth Dynllaen and Dublin. He states this is a very advantageous circumstance, which indeed no one can doubt, and the value of which in such gales as we have recently had, can be well appreciated. An influential meeting of landholders and other gentlemen in furtherance of this project, was held lately at Shrewsbury. The resolutions were moved by Lord Clive, Sir R. Hill, Bart., Rev. R. N. Pemberton, Col. Wingfield, &c. (See page 91.) A new road leads from Pont Aberglâslyn, through Penmorfa and Cruccaith, to this harbour. There are no public accommodations whatever in this remote part of the promontory. It is therefore necessary, in proceeding to Bardsey Isle, and to secure some retreats in gentlemen's houses. To Edern, 13 m. Proceeding 2 m. on the r. is Bryn-Odol, the seat of J. Watkins, Esq., situated upon an eminence, commanding a most extensive view of a flat woodless tract of country, bounded on one side by a range of mountains. Among these, Boduan and Carn-Madryn rise nobly in the foreground; and, beyond, the whole Snowdonian chain ranges in majestic grandeur. 1 m. s. of this place lies Cefn-Amlwch, an ancient seat, the residence of C. W. G. Wynne, Esq., where is a large cromlech, called Coeden-Arthur. In the contiguous parish of Llaniestin, various Roman urns, at different times, have been discovered. Dydweiliog, 1 m. Penllech, 13 m. Llangwynodl, 1 m. on the r., dedicated to Gwynod ab Seithenyn. The church is very ancient; upon a column is the following inscription: J. GWEN HOEDL JACET HIC 750. Upon another column, HÆC ÆDES ÆDIFICATA EST, A. D. M. The churches are very numerous in this part of the country. ABERAERON, 5 m. a poor village, at the extremity of the promontory of Lleyn, seated upon a sandy bay. The mouth is guarded by two little islands, called Ynys-Gwylan; these form a secure retreat for the small craft of the fishermen. G. C. Wynne, Esq., of Cefn-Amlwch, has presented to the parishioners ground for the site of a new churchyard, with a promise of a handsome subscription. The small rivulet Daron empties itself here. The dilapidated church, some miles distant, was formerly much resorted to by pilgrims, and is dedicated to Hywyn. The aisles are separated from the nave by handsome lofty columns. Near this spot is a small circular encampment, about 50 yds. in diameter, defended by a double foss and vallum. This creek is the principal place of embarkation to the Island of Bardsey. The passage is always difficult, lying through a rapid current which sets in between the island and the promontory of Braich-y-Pwll. The latter is a lofty, rocky, insulated hill, noted for having been a strong hold of the sons of Owen Gwynedd, Roderick and Malgwyn, to whom this part of the country belonged. The bottom, sides, and top, are filled with cells, oblong, oval, or circular, once thatched or covered from the inclemency of the weather. The summit was surrounded with a wall, still visible in many places. From this mount is an extensive view of the country, with the bay of Caernarvon on one side, and that of Cardigan on the other. Sarn Padrig is seen extending from Merionethshire its dangerous length; more distant is seen South Wales and Ireland; in front, the whole tract of Snowdonia. At the foot of this hill is Madryn, formerly the seat of the Bodvels. From Brynodol, visit the neighbouring shore, which is low and rocky, opening into frequent little creeks. Among these are Porth Towyn, Porth Colman, Porth Gwylan, and Porth Usgadan. Near the last, about the year 1750, a rock, which towered a great height out of the sea, was missed, after a horrible night of thunder and lightning. In the fields about Porth Gwylan grows samphire in abundance, on which cattle feed. Near Aberaeron grows Brassica oleracea. From this port, Mr. Pennant took a boat for BARDSEY ISLAND, 3 leagues to the west. After doubling a headland, the island appears full in view; passed under the lofty mountain which forms one side, and doubling the farther end, put into a little sandy creek, bounded by low rocks. BARDSEY ISLAND, in Welsh, Ynys-Enlli, "the island in the current," is the property of Lord Newborough. It is of a moderate elevation, somewhat more than 2 m. long, and one broad, containing about 370 acres of land, whereof nearly one third is occupied by a high mountain, affording sustenance only to a few sheep and rabbits. Its distance from the main land, is about a league. On the s. E. side, only accessible to the mariner, there is a small well-sheltered harbour, capable of admitting vessels of 30 or 40 tons burden. The soil is clayey, and produces excellent barley and wheat. No reptile is ever seen on this island except the common water-lizard. It contains but eight houses, yet the number of inhabitants is upwards of 70. Few of the present inhabitants are natives of the island. Their chief employment, besides managing their land, is fishing. A lighthouse was erected here in 1821. The tower is square, supporting a lantern 10 ft. high. The abbot's house is a large stone building, inhabited by several of the natives; not far from it, is a singular chapel or oratory, being a long arched edifice, with an insulated stone altar near the E. end. Dubricius, archbishop of Caerleon, almost overpowered by years, resigned his see to St. David, retired here, and died A.D. 612. He was interred upon the spot, but such was the veneration paid to his memory in after ages, that about the year 1107, his remains were removed by Urban, then bishop of Llandaff, and deposited in that cathedral, of which Dubricius was the first bishop. St. Dubricius was a man of singular eminence for learning and piety, whom Bayle calls Dubricius Gwaynianus, "a solo apud Demetas sic dictus," which place is in the parish of Fishguard. [Cam. Regis, 1795, p. 242.] He was archbishop of Caerleon, and metropolitan of all Wales, in the time of Aurelius Ambrosius. Prior to his elevation, he taught a school on the banks of his native river, which was much resorted to from all countries. He was a strenuous opposer of the Pelagian heresy, and assisted at the memorable synod held at Llandewi-Brefi, in Cardiganshire, for confuting that doctrine. Return through the rapid Bardsey Sound, between the island and the great promontory of Braic-y-Pwll, the canganum promontorium of Ptolemy; part is called Maen-Melyn; the remaining portion is a vast precipice, gloomy and tremendous. Landing at Aberaeron, visit its summit, and inspect the ruins of Capel Fair, St. Mary's. Not far hence, pass by the ruins of Capel-anhelog, the chapel without endowment. Passing a fertile bottom, ascend a lofty mountain, impending over the sea, called Uwch-mynydd, on which are several circular hollows. Descend by Bethlehem, a large antique mansion. Not far hence, about m. from the shore, rises a high rock, called Maen-y-mellt, the stone of lightning Llanfaelrhys, 2 m. The views here embrace an extensive prospect of the adjacent country, which is finely diversified. The channel produces a fine effect. Manganese is found here, but no mines are opened. A circulating school visits this place every fourth year. To such remote regions, the design is admirably adapted. Charity thus, like her Divine Master, becomes itinerant, and " goes about" diffusing its blessings even among the bye-ways and hedges of a fallen world. Rhiw, 13 m. Near this place is a bay called Hell's-Mouth, dreaded by mariners, being the Scylla to the Charybdis of Sarn-Badrig, the extremity of which lies nearly opposite. To Pwllheli continue near the shore on Tudwal's Road, sheltered by two islands of that name. The village of Llanbedrog is placed in a romantic creek, upon the s. E. side of Llyn. The church and parsonage lie in this bottom, on the verge of the sea, sheltered on one side by a declivity of fruitful corn land, and upon the other by a high black rock, forming a promontory. Colonel Wardle has a handsome house in this secluded corner, commanding views of Cardigan Bay, Harlech Castle, Cader Idris, &c. &c. Walking over the sands at a proper time, and crossing the water at a ferry, arrive at Pwllheli, or Eglwys-Dyneïos, a small fashionable, well-built, market-town and sea-port, situated on the s. side of the promontory of Llyën, in the hundred of Gufflogion, in Caernarvonshire, parish of Dyneïo. Three or four streams fall into its traeth. The church, built in 1834, is in a chaste style, substantial, and plain; it accommodates a large congregation, cost 1500l., and is erected upon land given by Lord Newborough. The entrance into the port is by a round-shaped rock, denominated Craig-yr-Imbell, or Gimblat. It is governed by a mayor, a recorder, and two bailiffs. The town-hall, erected in 1818, is a neat structure, of which a part is appropriated to shambles. The first floor contains two public rooms. The view of the adjacent country from the town abounds in the beautiful and sublime. Pwllheli forms a convenient deposit for the varied produce of Liverpool, and is considered to be the cheapest spot in N. Wales. Its harbour will admit vessels of 60 tons burden, which enables it to carry on an extensive coasting trade, and to form a depôt, or grand magazine, for supplying the s. w. district of the country. The petty sessions for the district of Lleyn are held here. Along the coast, to Bardsey Island, a considerable fishing trade is carried on. Vast shoals of herrings frequent the bays and creeks; these are taken, and some salted on the shore; others are sold to the Irish, who send over small craft for the purpose. Many of the fish called John Dorys, Zeus Faber of Linnæus, are taken here. They were formerly returned to their native element by the fishermen, till the Welsh gentry discovered, that, in despite of its uncouth and forbidding shape, this fish was the bonne-bouche of Quin, that celebrated actor and epicure; it then became an object of luxury among the Welsh. The Smelt, Atherina Hepse, is also found upon these shores, and a small lobster differing from the common sort, and burrowing in the sands. The salubrity of the air, and wholesomeness of fish-diet, may probably be evinced from the number of births in the period between 1787 to 1796, having exceeded that from 1757 to 1766 one half; births in the first period 253, in the second 320. From a table in the Rev. W. Davis's "General View," p. 439, only two other similar instances occur in N. Wales; these are Llandegai and Llansilin. At Llangybi, distant 3 m. from Pwllheli, and 12 from Caernarvon, is a mineral water highly efficacious in diseases of the eyes. The contents of this unanalysed spring are heavier than common, and lighter than sea-water; a large portion of mineral and alkaline matter enter into combination with a white metallic earth. The little village of Aberarch is pleasantly situated. This neighbourhood presents most interesting sylvan scenery. Llanystyndwy lies remarkably low, and is washed by the Dwyvor. Quitting the road, pass Trevan Hall, the residence of Miss Roberts. In a meadow, 1 m. thence, is a remarkable cromlech, elevated, 4 feet from the ground, by four supporters. The central is a huge stone, pointed at the ends, 3 feet thick, the circumference 30. It is called Coeten-Arthur, or Arthur's Quoit. At a farm, 1 m. further, called Ystym-Cegid, is another still more remarkable, which has been converted into a sheepfold by filling the interstices. The coping-stone is 18 inches thick, measures 36 feet round, and is so high as to allow a person on horseback to pass under. This is called also Arthur's Quoit, fabled to have been thrown by Arthur from a hill near Beddgelart. A pathway leads from this cromlech to Cruccaith. The following are the distances from Pwllheli to Cruccaith. Aberarch, 14 m.; Tan-yr-allt, John Robin, Esq., on the r., 1 m.; Friwlyd-Mill, 2 m. Pass three pools on the r. to PontFechan-Tynewydd, 14 m.; Cruccaith, 2 m. The N. coast of this. promontory is more uniformly rocky than the s., and, except in a few of the bays, there is no sand or gravel to be perceived. Some of the mountains approach close to the shore, forming precipices of considerable elevation. The interior of the country is varied, though it presents none of those deep glens and continuous chains of mountains which characterise the rest of Caernarvonshire: its surface is, for the most part, what would be called upland pasture in England; interrupted occasionally by narrow and often marshy valleys, with interspersed conic mountains, either solitary or in small groups. The fields are divided by stone walls or earthen mounds, and trees are generally wanting, which gives the district a bare appearance. Some fine timber is however to be found in several of the valleys, and even in exposed situations there appears no difficulty in raising wood. The general character of the soil is light and stony; but, from its situation with regard to the mountains, being both dryer and warmer than most other parts of the county, the quantity and value of its agricultural produce is proportionably larger; many cattle are reared here, and the horses of the district are greatly superior to the average of Welsh ponies; a superiority to be attributed, probably, in no small degree to Mr. Parry, of Madrin, who possesses a stud, among which are several fine hunter stallions. The maritime trade of the district is carried on for the most part at PWLLHELI. The little borough of CRUCCAITH is situated on a small bay a few miles to the N. E. of Pwllheli. The spirit of improvement, so visible in many other parts of N. Wales, has been peculiarly active in this district. It was first visible in the construction of a good road from Caernarvon to Pwllheli, and since in the spirited undertakings of Mr. Maddocks and Mr. Parry. A project was conceived of diverting the stream of passengers between Dublin and London, from the accustomed track through Holyhead and Chester, by offering line of road shorter by several miles, and in which the troublesome and dangerous passages of Conway and Bangor ferries should be avoided. For this purpose, good carriage roads have been opened from Capel Curig, in one direction, and Maentwrog in another to Beddgelart, whence an excellent line of communication has been formed along the edge of Traeth mawr, through the new town of TreMadoc, to the little bay of Porth Dynllaen on the N. coast of the promontory, not far from Nefyn. The advantages of this harbour (where a town is building) over Holyhead, are, that it is better sheltered, that even at the lowest ebb tide there is plenty of water for the largest packets to go in and come out, and that the frequent loss of one or two tides, now experienced by the packets being forced by N. w. gales into Caernarvon bay, is entirely obviated. At a public meeting held at Shrewsbury in January last, the following resolution was formed in reference to this place : "That Port Dynllaen, in Caernarvonshire, is the most desirable position for a packet station to Ireland (it being also strongly recommended for a harbour of refuge, so much required on the Welsh coast), and that by the formation of a line of railway from that port, by Bala and Shrewsbury, to the Grand Junction at or near Wolverhampton, the best and most expeditious railway communication from London to Dublin would be obtained." The general dip of the strata in this promontory is to the s. w. ; on the N. coast we find chlorite slate and coarse serpentine, the latter of which is |